Satoshi Nakamoto \u2013 the anonymous creator of bitcoin, the globe\u2019s number one digital currency by market cap \u2013 is now listed as the 15th richest person.<\/p>\n
Bitcoin first rose to prominence over 12 years ago. It was mined for the first time in January of 2009, and many traders now view the currency not just as a speculative tool, but as a hedge of sorts; something that can keep their wealth steady during times of economic strife. This attitude has taken prevalence in recent years given how many global governments continue to print money, causing rising inflation and other economic problems.<\/p>\n
Satoshi Nakamoto is the man (or woman) behind the asset. Many would like to congratulate him on a job well done and tell him how influential his asset has become. The currency has led to the creation of a whole new monetary system, and many people have become millionaires \u2013 even billionaires \u2013 by investing in this space early. To many, Nakamoto is a hero that needs to be thanked outright and in person.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s just one problem\u2026 Nobody knows who he is! To this day, the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto has never been revealed, meaning he\u2019s one of the wealthiest people nobody\u2019s ever met.<\/p>\n
At the time of writing, the net worth of Satoshi Nakamoto is estimated to exceed $73 billion. It is believed he holds as many as 1.1 million bitcoin units. Thus, Nakamoto is now richer than Walmart heirs Jim and Rob Walton and Mexican entrepreneur Carlos Slim.<\/p>\n
Most of Nakamoto\u2019s holdings are crypto based. The man holds a lot of BTC given that he is its investor, and now that the asset has been staying above $60,000 per unit for some time, Nakamoto has a lot of new wealth to enjoy, but the mystery surrounding the man\u2019s identity continues to hang in the wind, and there are many out there who are desperate for a peek of who \u2013 or what \u2013 he could be.<\/p>\n
As time has gone by, there have been many guesses regarding who\u2019s the real Satoshi Nakamoto. One prime suspect was Hal Finney, an early pioneer in the world of crypto. He was the first to receive BTC through an online transaction, though he consistently denied being Nakamoto and refused to discuss who the person was. Finney passed away in 2014.<\/p>\n
In 2015, Australian programmer Craig Wright claimed to be Satoshi, an announcement many refused to believe. It wasn\u2019t long after this statement was made that Wright retracted the claim and posted a public apology, claiming:<\/p>\n
\nI believed that I could put the years of anonymity and hiding behind me, but as the events of this week unfolded and I prepared to publish the proof of access to the earliest keys, I broke. I do not have the courage. I cannot.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n